Hi everyone,
Well, Charlotte, you’ve been 80 for several hours now… I hope you had a wonderful birthday and I’m wishing for MANY MANY MORE for you!
And… I didn’t want to forget… I saw tucked away in her comments, that TODAY is Debbie’s birthday! She was hoping to get to the North Carolina Museum of Dolls, and I hope she makes it! I hope your birthday is a very special day and please take some pictures to share!
Okay, let’s see who I have to show you!
These 2 dolls were my sister, Cindy’s Mother-in-Law, Tootie! :o) She looked her up on Google Lens and it just said Shirley Temple, but she wasn’t sure it was her. She has a composition head, arms and legs, but has a cloth body. Her dress is sewn on and she didn’t want to take it off. It is just stitched up at the back of the collar. Cindy thinks her dress might be original and pulled her undergarment over on her bottom and discovered her whole body is cloth.
She undid the back of her dress which was pinned several times.
Looks like maybe she said Mama… Cindy found a squeaker box.
Her mouth is open and Cindy and I were wondering if maybe her teeth were glass…
Here is the other doll of Cindy’s. She is in pretty rough shape…Cindy said she didn’t even know Tootie had this doll, or she would have asked about her. She was found in her cedar chest.
Cindy presumes the holes in her head were probably for tufts of hair…I love that one little weft of a ponytail…It’s so cute! Cindy thinks maybe she was a 1930’s Topsy Baby…
Cindy did a little research on Ebay and discovered this sweet baby doll… could it possibly be her?
Well, let’s see who can be Super Sleuth and find Cindy some answers! :o)
My plan is to show Paula’s “She Shed” tomorrow, but it has a 1 minute 39 second video that goes along with it and I have it loaded into my post, but I can’t get it to play. I’m going to see if I can enlist Kristoffer’s help so you can see it. If I can’t get it done Friday, hang on, I WILL get it for you ASAP!
I will see you tomorrow!
Blessings, Jeanne
First of all, a very happy birthday to Debbie! I hope you have a wonderful day, and enjoy the doll museum. You are so fortunate to still have one. For a number of years, we had the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art in Bellevue (east of Seattle); I went a number of times and was actually a member for a while. It was just wonderful. I was so sad when it did close, and of course most of those dolls have, I’m sure, found other homes now. Rosalie was a delightful person (I first met her when her museum was just a dream!), and found out a while back that she had passed away in 2023.
And then, a huge thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes!! Dorothy in PA….tell Charlotte Noelle that the idea of the same number of gifts as your age is pretty fun, until you get so old that it would take forever to open that many presents!! 😂
I actually had a pretty good birthday this year; my usual Wednesday activities (prayer service followed by piano practice) followed by dinner out with my son and a quiet evening. He stayed around long enough to do some laundry, and then headed back to his girlfriend’s place.
I’m sorry, but I can’t help with identifying those two dolls although it does appear that the smaller one is, indeed, a Topsy Baby. I couldn’t quite tell from her hands (hand positions can often identify the doll or at least the company that made it). Both dolls look like they have been well loved, especially the smaller one!
Thank you Charlotte! Just returning from lunch and a trip to the doll museum.
Debbie I couldn’t find where you wrote a comment other than to answer birthday congratulations so I’ll give you my happy birthday wishes here. So glad you had a good time at the doll museum. I’m looking forward to seeing al your great pictures.
My mother-in-law used to give the grandkids $10 checks for their birthdays but my father-in-law insisted on giving according to their age. By the time they got to their teen years combining the two their birthday cash was pretty good.
Birthday Wishes to you Charlotte and Debbie! Have a wonderful day! Did the American Girl doll get their two front teeth idea from that doll. It looks a little like Shirley Temple?
Thank you Sylvia!
Happy Birthday, Debbie! I certainly hope that you will be able to visit the doll museum today! If so, we would love to see the pictures! It also was good to hear that you had such a lovely day yesterday, Charlotte!
Jeanne, I have been looking at various doll sites, and that bigger doll that she said might be a Shirley Temple doll, just doesn’t really have all the things that a Shirley Temple doll would have. First and foremost, where are the dimples?I don’t see any. That is the one big identification that a ST doll must have. Next, where is her smile? All the ST dolls I have been looking at have a smile, and this doll just has her mouth open with those two teeth showing. If you look at the actual ST dolls, they have a smile with more than two teeth. I do remember dolls having those teeth, and remember pushing in on them for whatever reason! ( why would I do that?) Another thing that a ST doll usually had was an outfit from one of her movies, which this doll does not. This dress does look original to her. Her hair doesn’t look like it ever was in ringlets, like most ST dolls have. That leaves us wondering, who is she? At least I can surmise she is not .Shirley Temple! I remember Susette having a Susan Hoyer doll that looked similar to this one, familiar, but not completely sure. Unfortunately, .Susette isn’t here to let us know.
And yes, that black baby doll looks very much like a Topsy baby doll, not to be confused with a Topsy Turvy doll. Topsy Turvy dolls were two dolls in one, when you turned the doll upside down there was another doll underneath the long skirt. Topsy dolls usually had three tufts of hair on their head.
Hopefully some others can do more sleuthing, so Cindy can figure out what she has. Jeanne, hoping you continue to improve and get back to your sewing room soon!❤️
Nope, not a MARY Hoyer doll! I just looked at them online, and they never had teeth or an open mouth.
Thank you Linda! We are on our way home from the doll museum. I took many photos this time and will share with Jeanne soon.
Dear Jeanne, I am going to share this email with a doll club friend who should be able to help.
Here’s what I think. The little Black doll looks like a Topsy doll, not to be confused with Topsy Turvy dolls. I think Cindy is correct about that.
As for the other doll, I don’t think that she is a Shirley Temple. From my understanding, Ideal was the only doll company which had the rights to the name “Shirley Temple.” Other companies made similar dolls but called them by different names.
Happy Birthday to Debbie!
Thank you Dorothy! I tried to find a match at the doll museum but she remains a mystery.
Dear Debbie, I hope you had a nice birthday adventure at the doll museum. I would have loved to have joined you. A few years ago, I had a birthday party at our local doll museum. It wasn’t anything fancy but it was fun to be among my friends and, well, the dolls (laugh).
Yay! Happy Birthday Debbie! I hope you have a wonderful time at the doll museum!
and a happy celebration with loved ones.
These two dolls are precious. I do not know anything about olden dollies.
I have a question though. Are most of these dolls made in the US back then? or made in possibly Germany or something? I should look that up myself!
Both dolls are so sweet and look so very loved. The black doll needs a sweet dress and underpants right now!
I have boxes and now scanned images my father made of us as kids and I always had a doll in my hand. I should search those out and see what dolls I had.
Well, it must be just me, but… searching out old photos is kind of painful/traumatic.
I searched through my bajillion photos on my computer for a particular photo for my brother that has been lost in the move (honestly, don’t tell anyone, but I think my sister threw it away shh don’t tell anyone) We have not seen it anywhere. Well, I did find a photo of it when I took many pictures of the interior of my parents home in Annapolis Maryland 2013. Mom had already had her stroke and was living with dad in the apartments right down the road from me (Virginia, big traumatizing event) and I took photos for her to remember her house.
Anyway in the end, John (my brother) figured out that Uncle Jan, mom’s brother did indeed make that painting. I am the only one in the family that is really close to Lex, Jan’s son, but I encouraged John to communicate with him and see if he can get a high quality scan of the picture.
I am going to end here… I get so blabby.
I am staying inside today, sewing, cleaning, kitty snuggles and piano.
I hope all of you have happy Sunshine
Thank you Rosemary! The day went as planned except for the icy spots on the back roads. We are already planning a return visit.
Afraid I can’t help with positive identification of Cindy’s dolls. The first one appears to be an American mama doll. Many were made that were unmarked. But I’m no expert in this era of dolls, so that’s just my guess. The second does appear to be a Topsy doll.
Hope that Debbie has a wonderful birthday and makes it to the doll museum as planned.
As to the two doll photos from Cindy, the condition of the dolls is poor. I don’t have much hope on the little black topsy doll. Best keep her as a memento. However, the other composition doll might be able to be restored by an expert. If it were mine, I would see what might be done and then display her in a cute little vintage chair after her smashed face is repaired. I wonder what happened to her? Makes me sad.
As to the doll teeth, I was given a very large doll as a child in the early 50’s. She also had the “teeth”. I did push on them too, like Linda. My mother, gave that one away as I don’t think she liked it. Also sad. Not a clue as to the maker. Are there any marking on the back of the head/neck under the wig? That might help with identification.
Sun is just starting to peek out over the hills. Looks like a lovely day ahead.
Thanks everyone for all of the nice comments yesterday in case I missed anyone. 🙂
Thanks Joy! Everything went to plan. I spent more time with the dollhouses and miniature displays. I was inspired by your winter scene!
Oh, I can’t wait to see your pics. 🙂
Interesting dolls that Cindy has. I have no clue about any of them, except that you often see the pictures here and there on eBay of the older dolls. I’m no help.
Yesterday, got away from me and I wanted to comment on Joyce’s wonderful pictures of her kids but wasn’t able to get back to it.
Joy, the tables were fabulous with all the goodies on them. I can’t believe you actually found little paper plates and napkins. That is so cool.
And all the treats- Where on earth did you find all of those? I know you can get some of the items off of American Girl, but you have some really unique items. I love how the kids are dressed up nice and warm. I like the incidental plaid blanket folded on the picnic table bench and the kids were kind enough to bring their pets. Thst picnic table is great !
Joy, you did a fabulous job and it was really neat to get to see all the goodies you put with the kids enjoying their festive get together around the Campfire.
Oh, thanks so much Paula, for your lovely comments. As to the plates, they are actually trinket dishes from the Target bins around Christmas. The napkins are made from well, paper napkins, but I did make the napkin rings from some Christmas wrap. 🙂 The play food I’ve just acquired over time. Some pieces coming in sets and some from AG. The table/benches/chairs are from AG Blaire’s restaurant and some of the food too. I did make the blankets, well, cut them from some plaid I had here. Thanks so much.
Happy Birthday, Debbie!🎂🎁🎈🎉💐🥳😹😻 I hope you get to go to the Doll Museum and take pictures to share.
No idea about either of the dolls. Like Joy, I was going to ask if either have a neckstamp? The doll with teeth looks as if she was dropped at some point.
Thank you Laura! I ran my battery down taking photos.
I am no good with the older dolls, but I can see they are well loved!
I hope someone can figure out the big on, it seems that the little one had been shown on ebay .
Debbie, I hope you were able to get to the museum and have a great birthday!
I have been scrambling though a bunch of former sewing stuff, some to give some to toss, some to hope….well, maybe…..i will use this. Going to rest for awhile and then cook.
Jeanne, how is your cold? I hope much better.
Thank you Sissy! It was a great day.
I can’t help with the dolls, like some others I know very little about the older dolls. Happy birthday Debbie and Charlotte, I hope it was a good one.
Thank you everyone for the nice comments about the sweaters, I have three I have finished, two in the Aran pattern and one, I made up a new design using the same pattern, all supposedly 4ply yarns and all have come out different sizes. I wish I could send one to everyone on the blog.
The garage is progressing, we have a pile of stuff to take to Guild next week for the free table and we have told ourselves we can’t pick up ANYTHING!!! I think I would win the competition that is a quilters meme. ‘She who dies with the most fabric, wins’!!
Have a lovely day everyone
Thank you Anne! Your sweaters are lovely. So glad we were able to see the photos of Joy’s doll wearing one on yesterday’s post.
I agree on the fabric! However, what should I do with the 1937 refrigerator we have in our garage? Came out of our old cabin. 🙂
Dear Jeanne, here is what one of my doll club friends said about Cindy’s big doll:
“Without a mark it would be tough to identify the larger doll- a lot of companies made “mama dolls “ with this kind of shoulder head body and a squeaker inside – not a Shirley which was always on a full composition body that was always marked . Her face is really sweet!”
If Cindy can find a maker’s mark on the doll, we might be able to find more information.